Sri Lanka Adopts Four-Day Workweek to Save Fuel

Sri Lanka has implemented a four-day workweek for public institutions, declaring every Wednesday a holiday starting March 18, as the government seeks to conserve fuel amid potential shortages triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East. The measure, announced Monday following an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, affects government offices, schools, universities and courts nationwide, with officials urging private companies to adopt similar schedules.

The decision stems from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carries about 20 percent of the world's seaborne oil trade, much of it destined for Asia. Tensions have intensified since late February, when the United States and Israel conducted strikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory actions that have restricted passage through the strait. Although Iran's foreign minister stated the route remains open for international shipping except for vessels linked to the U.S. and Israel, the conflict has driven global oil prices to around $100 per barrel and raised alarms for import-reliant nations like Sri Lanka, which sources all its petroleum products from abroad, including...